Implement for handling hollow bricks.



IMPLEME c; s. HALL. NT-FOR HANDLING HOLLOW BRICKS.

APPLICATION rum) nno.zo,19oa.

rs: NORRIS rzrsras co, wasmmrmu, m i

PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

UNITED srArns PATENT OFFICE.

IMPLEMENT FOR HANDLING HOLLOW BRICKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed December 20,1906- Serial No, 348,812.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lohrville, in the county of Calhoun and State of Iowa, have invented an Implement for Handling Hollow Bricks, of which the following is a full and complete specification.

In the laying of the ordinary hollow bricks which are now extensively used in the con struction of buildings the hands of the brickmason are injured to a more or less extent by contact with the rough and gritty surfaces of the hollow bricks and in many instances are made so sore as to compel a cessation of work for a few days in order to give them an opportunity to heal.

It is the purpose of my invention, therefore, to provide a simple and easily-operated dc vice which will not only protect the hands from direct contact with the hollow bricks,

and thereby save them from injury, but will otherwise greatly facilitate the handling the bricks and setting them in place.

With these general objects in view my invention consists of an implement comprising opposite jaws or grapples and an intermediate handle, the jaws at one end of the handle being pivoted to open and close upon the hollow brick and provided with a thumbpiece for operating the same.

My invention further consists in other features of construction and arrangement, all of which will be hereinafter fully described, and more specifically set forth in the appended claims. i A

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an implement for handlinghollow bricks constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the implement in handling hollow bricks of a standard size. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the implement arranged for handling short hollow bricks. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the pivoted jaws. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the attachment used in handling short hollow bricks.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention I employ in the first instance a flat handle-bar 1, one end of which is curved downwardly to form a fixed jaw 2, the lower end of which terminates in a catch 8, while the other end of said fiat bar is provided with a perforation 4 to retheir lower ends and terminating in the catches 9, one of said members being extended at its upper end and shaped to form a thumb-piece 10. These members are connected by short bolts 1 1 and 12, one of which, as 11, forming the pivotal connection with the handle-bar passing through the perforation l therein, while the other bolt 12 engages the outer end of the bar to limit the swinging movement of the members or jaws. The bolt 12 may be, and preferably is, pro vided with a collar 13, which not only properly spaces the members apart, but also protects the bolt from direct contact with the handlebar.

14 designates a pair of hooks which terminate in straight portions 15, adapted to extend substantially parallel with the handlebar 1 when the hooks are applied, said strai ht portions being connected to the shan s 16 by means of the connecting portions 17, which latter are curved outward, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to space the straight portions a suitable distance apart. The pair of hooks are connected together at their shanks 16 by means of short bolts 18 18, and these bolts are disposed to correspond with the notches 7 in the handle-bar, with which they engage to connect said hooks to said handle-bar. It will be noted that in attaching these hooks it is not necessary to entirely remove the bolts, but merely to slightly loosen the same, and after passing the j aw 2 of the handle-bar between the bolts the latter are brought into engagement with the notches and then tightened to complete the attachment. Instead of providing the usual square nut for the boltslS, as shown in the drawings,I may employ the ordinary style of winged nut to facilitate the manipusaid bolts are brought to bear against the jaw formed at one end thereof, apair of jaws inner ends of the notches, so as not to dis engage therefrom.

In employing the implement for handling the standard size of hollow bricks the pair of hooks 14 is removed and the said hollow brick engaged by the fixed j a'w 2 and the pair of pivoted jaws 8, as shown in Fig. 2. In the manipulation of the device in this form it is grasped by the hand-grip 5, and after placing the fixed jaw 2 in engagement with one end of the brick, with the pivoted jaws swung outward, said pivoted jaws are then permitted to drop by gravity, so as to engage the other end of the brick, during which operation the pivoted jaws are manipulated by engagement of the thumb with the thumbpiece 10. The brick can then be lifted by the handle, and after it is properly set in place the implement is disengaged by simply pressing with the thumb on the thumbpiece 10, which will swing the pivoted jaws out of engagement with the brick and permitting the fixed jaw to be disengaged. It will be readily seen, therefore, that the hollow brick can be easily handled and by the use of only one hand and that the hand of the operator does not come in contact with the brick at any time.

In handling short hollow bricks the pivot ed jaws are removed and the pair of hooks 14 attached, as shown in Fig. 3, and in this arrangement the fixed hook 2 is turned up, so as not to interfere with the engagement of the hooks with the brick. In the application of the implement in this form it is only necessary to pass the hooks into the hollow brick, so that the latter will be supported on said hooks, the latter being spaced apart, so as to straddle the center wall with which these bricks are usually provided.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an implement for handling hollow bricks, the combination, of a bar having a pivoted to the other end of the bar, one of said latter jaws being extended slightly beyond the opposite side of the pivot to form a thumb-piece for operating the pivoted jaws, and a hand-grasping portion on the bar between the fixed and pivoted jaws.

2. In an implement for handling hollow bricks, the combination, of a bar having a hook or jaw formed at one end thereof, a pair of jaws pivoted at the other end of the bar, one of said pivoted jaws being extended and formed into a thumb-piece, means for limiting the outward movement of the pivoted jaws, and a handgrasping portion formed on the bar between the jaws.

3. In an implement for handling hollow bricks, the combination, of a bar having a hook or jaw at one end thereof, a pair of jaws pivoted on the other end of said bar, one at each side of the bar, a thumb-piece formed at the upper end of one of the pivoted jaws, a bolt connecting the pivoted j a'ws below the bar and adapted to limit the outward movement of said jaws, and a hand-grip attached to the bar between the sets of jaws.

4. In an implement for handling hollow bricks, the combination, of a bar having a hand-grasping portion at the center thereof, a hook formed on one end of the bar and a perforation in the other end of said bar, the hook end of said bar having notches in its opposite edges; together with a pair of hooks 14 connected by bolts 18 18, the latter being adapted to engage the notches for securing said hooks to the bar, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES S. HALL.

Witnesses:

D. A. EvANs, WM. VVINKELMAN. 

